Competencies Needed by Seed Production and Distribution Company Employees.

Morrow, Charles Kendall

To determine competencies needed by employees in the seed production and distribution industry, a questionnaire containing 49 competencies was compiled with the assistance of specialists and mailed to 100 company managers and 200 nonmanagerial employees. Returns from the 200 usable questionnaires indicate that the competencies needed most by managers and sales personnel were the abilities to make sound decisions, delegate responsibilities, communicate effectively, work cooperatively, and use quality control measures to maintain quality seed. The competencies needed most by production and processing personnel wer e the abilities to apply and handle safely agricultural chemicals and to work cooperatively, and the understandings of: (1) seed viability, purity, and germination, (2) crop maturity and planting dates, and (3) soil sampling and fertilizer recommendations. The results indicate, however, that all 49 competencies are needed to some degree for successful seed production and distribution. This M.S. thesis was submitted to Iowa State University. (GB)